Interview conducted by Guy Hazlewood for Scenic Rim Media QLD. 

Living the Tradition explores the origins of Irish airs and traditional music. What first inspired you to undertake this journey and create the documentary?

I moved to Ireland 25 years ago and felt immediately at home. My parents lived here, and my grandmother was born in Limerick. As I immersed myself in the music scene, I discovered how many beautiful slow instrumental tunes existed. I had only ever learned one slow air, as they are called, during my travels, and here I was discovering a whole new world of sound.

They were played on fiddle, uilleann pipes, concertina and guitar, but it was rare to hear them performed on cello. Every time I played them, people were moved and excited to hear them on the instrument. They are a perfect fit for the deep tone and resonance of the cello.

Cellists began asking for the music, so I decided it was time to bring these airs to the cello community and write them down. That led to three years of listening, researching, arranging and composing. Some pieces remain close to their traditional forms, while others became fully developed works featuring new techniques, harmonies and variations.

Cellist and filmmaker Maarten Roos was one of the thousands of cellists who bought the book, and he became interested in turning the music and history behind these pieces into a documentary exploring their roots.

During the filming process in Ireland, was there a particular story, location or musician that had a lasting impact on you personally?

Filming with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin was amazing. He was such a scholar and a beautiful pianist, and his home was in the very area connected with one of the stories behind Éamonn an Chnoic (Ned of the Hill), a kind of Irish outlaw figure.

I often performed with Mícheál, and he was a major influence on my life. He has since passed away, which makes that segment of the film particularly poignant.

Visiting Lillis Ó Laoire, the renowned scholar and singer, was also a highlight. I was expecting scholarly insights and historical information, but there in his office he suddenly broke into song in the most naturally Irish way of expression. It’s a beautiful scene in the film.

Audiences will experience both the film and a live performance on the same afternoon. What can people expect from the concert, and how does it complement the themes explored in the documentary?

The film explores a living tradition and its roots. It is about connecting land, music, people and the past as they are experienced in the present.

In the live performance that follows, we explore music from many traditions. Inspired by melody and rhythm, we create compositions and arrangements drawn from both well-known and lesser-known gems, bringing them into our cello-and-guitar world while honouring their traditional influences.

Your music blends Celtic, jazz, world music and classical influences. What is it about Irish traditional music that continues to resonate with audiences around the world?

I think it is part of the DNA of so many people. Irish roots have spread throughout the world, creating a vast network of people who hear Irish music and somehow feel a sense of coming home.

Even for those without Irish ancestry, Ireland has had such a profound influence on global culture that many people connect instinctively with its rhythms and melodies.
 

Great to have the support of local papers; it is sad when they disappear. I love having a local rag to peruse at brekky! https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/tweedcoasttimes/living/de-ziah-and-date-the-eternal-tradition/

De Ziah and Date – the eternal tradition

Ian Date and Ilse de Ziah explore ancient and living traditions in a stunning concert for cello and guitar. Photo: SUPPLIED

 

THE De Ziah and Date duo will return to the Tweed with a double event in Murwillumbah on June 22, featuring a documentary screening and a live concert.

Their feature-length film Living the Tradition explores the origins of Irish airs, delving into the country’s musical heritage through stories, melodies, and traditions passed down through generations.

Following the screening, Ilse de Ziah (cello) and Ian Date (guitar) will perform live, blending Celtic, jazz, and world music influences with a classical sensibility.

Speaking from Sydney during a short tour, Ballina-based Date said the combined film and concert format had been exceptionally well received.

“The tradition we explore in the film isn’t the trad Irish music that people think,” he said.

“It’s over 300 years old and has its roots in an old Baroque tradition, and there’s more of that ancient music in Ireland than the trad Irish if you want to dig deep enough.

“We continue living the tradition with music that we’ve composed ourselves that is inspired by the same kind of things as those ancient compositions.”

One of the airs featured in the film is a lament called Song of the Books, which tells the story of a schoolteacher travelling to take up a post on an island off the coast of Ireland.

“He had a library of books in a boat, and he was travelling separately,” Date said.

We were recently in Toowoomba at The Empire for the QPac conference and it reminded me of a review writer Kathie Hendon sent to The Chronicle in Toowoomba after our performance there, which we didn't share! Here it is.

Last Saturday night saw Toowoomba music lovers treated to an exhilarating concert of evocative music on cello and guitar in the Empire Church Theatre.  The duo Ilse de Ziah and Ian Date brought to life an eclectic fusion of folk and Irish music that had their audience enraptured.

An introductory film, “Living the Tradition”, proved a wonderful way to explore how Irish music responds to political events and to natural settings.  The second half of the program saw the duo then introduce their own compositions with fascinating background detail as to why the song happened to be written and comments on its style.

“Sea Eagle” for example, was inspired by the re-introduction of Sea Eagles in Ireland.   “Here and There” was a reflection upon the wandering life of these top Australian musicians spending their years between Ireland and Australia.

Ian and Ilse alternated the identifying commentaries.  Ian’s larrikin Australian humour had the audience ready for anything, when he stated how “Ballykenefick” came about – as he pondered the sound of the wind through the web of electric wiring in the backyard of an Irish ham radio enthusiast.

Ilse related how she inserted a quirky zing to the song “Twisting of the Rope” based on an ancient Irish air.  The story describes the witty way in which an Irish mother despatches a prospective lover upon realizing he is there for her daughter, and not herself!

The two-and-a-half hour concert was a delight and the Church Theatre a perfect venue for this intimate, fun and thoughtful program.   Fingers crossed that Toowoomba music lovers will see and hear more of this dynamic duo in the future.

We had the incredible opportunity to perform at the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra recently, and what a fantastic venue it is! The atmosphere was perfect for sharing our music and stories, and we were thrilled to connect with such an engaged audience.

A big thanks to everyone who attended! If you missed the show or want to relive the experience, here’s a wonderful review of our performance from Len Power in City News:

Read the full review here. (also included below)

The performance featured Living The Tradition with Ilse De Ziah on cello and Ian Date on guitar. It was a truly special night, and we’re so grateful for the warm reception.

We hope to see you at our next show!

For an emotional journey through traditional Irish music, cellist Ilse De Ziah first presented a screening of the film she made with Maarten Roose called Living The Tradition: An Enchanting Journey Through Old Irish Airs. 

The film, a documentary, shows Ilse’s search around Ireland for the background and locations of many traditional Irish tunes and their composers. 

Along the way, she meets with composers, scholars and local characters who help to provide a deeper understanding of the roots of this emotionally charged music.

Dynamic, colourful, lush and romantic, the country’s history and politics are never far away in these tunes. Beautifully filmed, the atmospheric and unique scenery of Ireland, coupled with the country’s traditional music, make this a memorable journey.

Taking the stage after the film, De Ziah with her cello and Ian Date, guitarist, entertained with a selection of music from their debut album, Here & There.

De Ziah is a cellist and composer famous for her cross-genre style. She has worked across contemporary, classical, rock ‘n’ roll, traditional Irish, jazz and experimental music. As a cellist, De Ziah is known for her daring and emotionally charged performances which connect at a deep level with people from all walks of life.

Date is regarded as one of Australia’s great guitarists. Known for his lyrical, inventive style and virtuosity, he has performed extensively as a jazz musician since the 1990s.

Presenting nine of the songs from their album, the pair displayed their virtuosity, individually and together. They began with The Ambush, a work inspired by the history of a place where they had lived in Ireland. It was a dynamic piece that combined chaos, emotion and melody and displayed their skill at working harmoniously together. 

Other works were inspired by music from Mexico and Argentina as well as other Irish stories and melodies.

Their performance made an immediate connection with the audience. De Ziah clearly loves performing and sharing her music. Constantly smiling, her relaxed rapport with Date and the audience was very appealing.

Both performers presented the audience with fascinating detail of the origins of each tune. Date’s personal interaction with the audience was also very down-to-earth, easily showing his enjoyment in playing this music.

We are looking forward to our next performance in Murwillumbah. We wrote some of the tracks of our debut album “Here & There”, and arranged all the music there, so it feels like going home. We can't wait to see everyone we know and share our latest music on cello and guitar. We will also be screening Living the Tradition. Here's an interview in our favourite local paper! Join us in this great event at The Regent Cinema. Get your tickets now!

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce our next performance in Murwillumbah, a place that holds a special connection for us. Many of the tracks on our debut album, Here & There, were written and arranged right here, so this feels like coming home. We can’t wait to share our latest music with everyone on cello and guitar, and to reconnect with familiar faces in this vibrant community.

As part of the evening, we’ll also be screening Living the Tradition, a piece that’s very close to our hearts, offering a glimpse into the stories that inspire our music.

Check out our interview in our favourite local paper Tweed Valley Weekly for a behind-the-scenes look at our journey and the music we’re bringing to Murwillumbah. 🎤

This is going to be a wonderful event at The Regent Cinema, and we’d love for you to join us. Get your tickets now and don’t miss out on an unforgettable evening!

Looking forward to seeing you all there!